Win My Husband Over to Find My Child
Chapter 261: The Velvety Petals of the Lotus Flowers

Chapter 261: The Velvety Petals of the Lotus Flowers

After taking a short stroll and spending some time admiring the fountain, Calix suggested they move to boating. His words earned a delighted squeal from Calliope while Leslie simply smiled at him.

Aside from renting a rowboat, Calix hired a paddler service. He was tempted to show off his paddling skills to Calliope and Leslie but ought to keep watch on both ladies.

His daughter was very young while his wife’s mobility was limited. He needed to be ready to grab them if anything happened.

The paddler stood tall on the end side of the boat. Calix let Leslie and Calliope sit side by side in the middle while he was seated facing them. The rhythmic echoes of the oars dipping into the water resonated around them.

The blazing sun increased the temperature of the early summer morning. Fortunately, the rowboat’s roof and the cool breeze helped to make the weather bearable.

"Pink lotus flowers~ All so pretty ah."

"Hehe, Poppy likes them?"

"Yup!"

As the boat glided across the lake, Calliope and Leslie were immersed in the beauty of the floating lotuses. The flowers swayed gently on the surface, following the rippling currents.

"Ah! Duckies! Hello~"

Calliope’s small face brightened once she spotted a nearby group of ducks. She happily waved one of her hands as the other was still hugging the toy Mimo.

"Wanna look at them closer?" Calix raised his brows, silently amused by the little one’s excitement.

"Want! Poppy wants!" Calliope repeatedly nodded like a little duck pecking grains, "Uncle, help me."

"Come here ah," Calix leaned forward, reaching out for Calliope’s small body with both of his hands, "Be careful. The flowers will eat you if you fall."

Pouting, Calliope replied, "Uncle, flowers can’t eat meat ah."

"Hahaha! Who knows?"

Securing Calliope’s body with one hand, Calix helped his daughter to peer over the edge. Soft gasps of amazement continued rolling out of the little one’s mouth.

"Poppy, don’t try to touch... them..." warned Leslie as she looked at the back of her daughter’s head, "They might bite you..."

Turning her little head to glance at Leslie, Calliope cheerily responded, "Okay, Auntie~ Come here! The duckies look at me!"

Chuckles slipped between Leslie’s lips. Scooting closer to the edge, she also took in the adorable view of the ducks staring at Calliope.

’Thank goodness. She’s not afraid.’

Leslie quietly recalled when Mimo said it sent its physical body to accompany Calliope. She tried talking more to the crochet fox toy once they were home but, got interrupted by Calix and Aunt Wendy at different times.

Then, Leslie’s focus shifted to the plan of residing temporarily in Frostwich Town. She was busy making changes to her rehab sessions while thinking of ways how to make Calliope more comfortable with her soon.

’The drowning didn’t happen in the original story. I’m sure of it.’

Leslie didn’t get visions of the novel like the one in Violet’s case a few months ago[01]. But, her instinct and heart unwaveringly came out with the conclusion.

Curling her lips into a smile, Leslie silently moved her eyes from the squealing Calliope and the grinning Calix. The image of them—her husband and their daughter—sharing happiness flooded her heart with warmth.

’I wish such moments would last forever.’

Leslie often regretted the lack of a father figure in Calliope’s life but, she refused to let any man blindly fill in the space Axel abruptly left.

Aside from still having him in her heart, Leslie was afraid that she couldn’t balance her attention between Calliope and her new partner. She didn’t want to give any openings to being a neglectful mother.

Leslie let her eyes stay longer on Calix’s side profile. He was teasing Calliope about monsters lurking in the lake. The little one swiftly rebutted each of his words.

Anyone who chanced a gaze on them might think they were an adorable and close pair of father and daughter.

’I really have to thank Calix.’

Fortunately, Calliope got to experience a fatherly love this time around even though Calix was not actually her real father – the one who died even before knowing of her existence.

"Auntie~ Here! Touch the flowers!"

Calliope’s voice pulled Leslie out of her trance. Blinking, her gaze regained its clarity as she looked at the laughing little girl.

"Touch the flowers? The... lotuses?"

"Yup!"

Calix pretended to sigh, his voice had a hint of laughter, "Poppy wanna try touching the lotuses. Come and do it too, Leslie."

Following the man and the child’s invitation, Leslie slowly extended her hand over the edge. She let her fingertips softly brush the petals of the flowers. The velvety sensation brought a smile to her lips.

"Hehe, they’re soft..."

"Right? So soft!" exclaimed Calliope, her eyes sparkling like stars, "Mimo likes them too! Right, Mimo?"

The toy Mimo blankly stared at the lotus flowers.

Leslie held back from laughing. She couldn’t help but imagine the soul Mimo dancing from one lotus pad to another. It loved doing that whenever it went on an adventure in the garden.

’If only Mimo want to be here.’

Leslie had invited Mimo to appear during their picnic but, the crochet fox toy politely declined. Mimo cleverly and considerately said it hoped the family of three could spend their time together.

"Mimo, you’re one of... us too."

Leslie responded to Mimo with those words. Even though she was the only one who could see and speak to the fox toy, she would never ignore its important and precious existence.

If not for Mimo, Leslie knew she wouldn’t ever reunite with Calliope in this new world.

"Leslie, whether it’s my soul or my body, I’ll always be with you and Calliope."

Leslie sensed something serious underlying Mimo’s words but, she couldn’t bring herself to ask further. Wishing to respect the fox toy’s decision, she simply said it was free to come if it wanted to.

’There wouldn’t be us without Mimo.’

Shifting her eyes from Calliope to the toy Mimo, Leslie quietly prayed for all of them to stay together.

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Reference:

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